TWO of the country’s medal hopefuls in the coming Tokyo Olympics showed the way for the country in its goodwill meet against Thailand over the weekend at the Surat Thani province.
World champion Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam hacked out similar victories over respective Thai opponents Porntip Buapa and Wuttichai Yurachai.
Paalam beat Yurachai in the men’s 52 kg class, while Petecio won her 60 kg bout against Buapa.
Petecio even posted a short clip of her fight on her Facebook page that saw the Filipina scoring a standing eight-count against her Thai opponent.
Irish Magno, the third Olympic-bound fighter currently with the Philippine men and women’s boxing team that is holding training camp in Thailand, was not as fortunate as she lost to Jutamas Jitpong in the women’s 51 kg class.
The other Filipino pugs who also saw action suffered the same fate as Magno.
Palicte lost to Somchay Wongsuwan in the men’s 63 kg division, Piannar also went down against Peerapat Yeasungnoen at 69 kg., Risa Pasuit bowed against Olympian Sudapon Seesondee, while Aira Villegas and Junmilardo Ogayre likewise fell short in their respective matches against Preedakamon Tintabthai and Chatchai-Dacha Butdee, another Thai bound for the Tokyo Games .
The second of the two-part goodwill tournament will be held on April 10.
The Thai training camp serves as the first international exposure of the national boxing team this year after training in the bubble at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
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